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Keep your eyes on Jesus

by Dex

I am at the point where my well of outrage is empty.

After a certain point how angry can you get about the latest government example of either not enforcing laws , creating a new morality or turning the law against law abiding citizens who happen to be Christian and or conservative? I don’t know about you but my peak anger was reached after the 2022 midterms.

It’s pretty obvious our system of elections are corrupted. The scoundrels in charge don’t even hide their chicanery anymore.

The situation is not helped by certain judges who refuse to hear the serious merits of the lawsuits brought about by conservative candidates or by “journalists” who refuse to look into allegations of election misconduct.

We also have blatantly unconstitutional laws in effect such as the recent law in California prohibiting doctors from spreading “misinformation” about Covid -19 and vaccines under penalty of losing their medical license.

And speaking of the vaccines , where are the enterprising investigative reporters looking into the rash young athletes suddenly dropping dead or suffering sudden deleterious signs and symptoms out of nowhere? This phenomena has only been happening in the last two years. Hmm… could this be connected to the Covid vaccines? Maybe, maybe not, but why is no one investigating the situation to at least definitively show that the shots are truly “safe and effective” as advertised?

I look at what’s going on and the effort by people to pretend not to know things and I have to admit it is quite exasperating. Perhaps you have also gotten to the point where you feel tuning out is your best recourse to maintain your sanity.

Americans are losing faith in their government and in institutions that were once revered such as law enforcement , the judiciary and medicine. This is a serious situation because these institutions are matching the lack of trust citizens have in the federal government.

So where do we turn and whom do we turn to ? We can’t run because America is the last bastion of freedom for the world . We must also be guarded in our trust of politicians since many are bought and paid for by entities who either view the American people as an annoyance or want to subjugate us.

Looking around at the rampant lawlessness and disregard for traditional morals can easily make one hopeless. However, as Christians our hope is not in some politician, political party or even a judicial ruling.

No. Our hope is in one person and one person alone: Jesus.

For good reason Jesus said ” I am the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). ” He said so because it is the truth.

And speaking of truth, it is what is sorely lacking in our current society. We are lied to about everything. We’re told there are multiple agendas, we’re told science trumps the Bible; we’re told marriage between a man and woman is not important; we’re told that climate change is an existential threat and we’re told minor laws such as jaywalking or shoplifting aren’t worth enforcing.

Christian , God has revealed to you the effects of a society that chooses to reject God and the Son. You are witnessing the literal madness and lawlessness that is associated with this decision.

America is mired in darkness as a result. Why did Jesus call himself the light of the world (John 8:12) ? Easy, the world is in darkness (Isaiah 60:2). Why is the world in darkness? The world is in darkness because Satan rules those who are not in Christ (1 John 5:19, John 8:44). Satan’s kingdom is darkness full of lies, murder, lust, sensuality, envy, anger, hatred, jealousy, covetousness, fornication, adultery, thievery, slander and idolatry, just to name a few examples.

Instead of emphasizing the Gospel and the morals attached to it, American culture embraces woke politics. Instead of teaching love thy neighbor, what is taught is love thyself. Instead of promoting humility, pop culture preaches pride.

These are the bitter fruits that come from turning from Christ to the false gospel of the flesh. We are in times where good is called evil and evil is called good and that should cause us to shudder.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. –Isaiah 5:20 (New International Version)

Woe is more than just an expression of a feeling , in this use in the Bible it is an expression of judgement. We are witnessing the consequences of knowing God, but not acknowledging the Son, Jesus, though the arrogant and futile thoughts and policies of those who claim to know what is best. It can be strongly argued that America and most of Western Civilization is living out Romans 1:

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.— Romans 1:24-32 (NIV)

When God gives you over to something, it is because you worship that object ( be it a political philosophy, alcohol, drugs, pornography, occult ic practices, fornication, adultery or homosexuality) more than the Heavenly Father. His love for us may sometimes allow for bitter discipline that comes from the consequences of pursing sin. These consequences will either bring us back to the Father, through Jesus, giving us life, or we will harden our hearts and embrace the world, and the devil, resulting in death.

Picture yourself in extreme darkness. I am talking no streetlights, no moonlight, no ambient light. We’re talking darkness that is so black that you do not even see your hands in front of your face. How do you even walk in such heavy darkness, much less see your path? Now picture a light in the distance giving you a faint glimmer of your path and surroundings. Most people would go to the light unless they are hiding from something they fear.

This is America right now… mired in darkness. As Christians it is vitally important to keep our eyes on Jesus.

We need to make sure we reflect His light and not the darkness of the culture.

Our lights grow brighter when we pray, study and (if God places it on your heart) fast. We become more spiritually luminescent as we draw closer to the Father , Son and the Holy Sprit and stand uncompromising in our faith.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.–Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

Do not look to the left or the right. In other words, do not despair over the latest outrageous headline about corrupt politicians enabling lawlessness through irresponsible legislation. Don’t worry over the state of our economy. Don’t worry about Covid. What does worry change? Nothing. Neither does anger and outrage have any effect except for disrupting your health and peace.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Take heart, we are not powerless. We possess the most powerful weapon in the world, prayer and we have a Heavenly Father who promises to answer our prayers according to His perfect will. All we have to do is keep our eyes on Jesus and the Almighty God will do the rest.

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The Disconnect Between Conservatives and Liberals

by Dex

When golfing with some friends recently I had moment of sharp clarity. Once I explain my eureka moment , I am pretty sure you will agree.

But first, a little about my group. This particular day there were two conservatives, myself and another gentleman, and two liberals. As we were preparing to tee off on hole #3, my fellow conservative and I were discussing this stupid and arbitrary mask mandate in California and how this particular golf course wanted players to wear a mask throughout the entire round, rather than the clubhouse, because of our dictatorial governor’s “safer at home” diktats.

We also noted how everything in this whole Wuhan Virus “crisis”, from the lockdowns and mask mandates reek of communism. We both noted the silence from the other two in our group and that was when discernment opened my eyes to a crucial difference between conservatives and liberals.

Do you ever notice that liberals never speak of communism? Every conservative I know compares the lockdowns with tactics used in communist countries. But I have yet to hear a similar observation from any liberals I associate with at work or in this case,the golf course.

I have noted past conversations with liberals, before this whole virus nightmare began, that the subject of communism was always greeted with a look of puzzlement like “you’re one of those conspiracy nuts” and a dismissive tone. If my left leaning golf buddies are any indication, that cognative dissonance has not changed.

Liberals seem to have no problems state and local governments weaponizing the virus to marginalize the Christian church,restrict freedom of association , and most importantly, restrict freedom of speech. These assaults on basic constitutions rights are communist tactics. But our liberal countrymen don’t appear to see it that way.

They see these usurpations of freedom as simply political leaders doing all they can to keep us safe. In the early days of the virus, I could understand the temporary restrictions because of the newness of the outbreak and the not knowing. But we know more about the virus now and how to treat it. What conservatives question is the destruction of livelihoods, keeping kids (who have the lowest chance of contracting the virus) out of school and keeping churches from gathering (while giving a pass to protestors and rioters) as the means from stopping the spread.

Meanwhile, liberals disparage conservatives for daring to put freedom above safety. Instead of considering conservatives’ warnings of government totalitariansm they would rather rat them out for not wearing a facemask. I find it ironic that our liberal friends fail to see the irony that snitching on fellow neighbors is also emblematic of communist countries.

Liberals do not speak of communism because it is not reported in the news which is gospel to them. All we can do as patriotic Americans is to continue to sound the alarm and hope they get it before a boot on their face makes it frighteningly clear.

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No grace from Los Angeles County

By Dex

After losing a series of court cases designed to stop indoor services at Grace Community Church due to the Wuhan virus. The County of Los Angeles has decided to take a more vindictive approach. The county recently notified the church that it will be evicted from the parking lot that it had leased for 45 years.

 Grace Community Church has been given until October 1 to surrender the portion of land that houses the lot.  This, after the church had won a victory in Los Angeles County Superior Court that allowed it to hold in-person church services during the ongoing Wuhan virus pandemic. 

The county issued a letter warning that if Grace Community Church fails to comply with the eviction, “the District may enter the premises and remove Grace’s personal property in accordance with the Agreement and applicable law, and Grace will be responsible for any resultant expenses incurred by the District.”

Jenna Ellis, of the Thomas More Society, called the move by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works retaliation for the church daring to pushback against the statewide ban on indoor church worship services.

“Los Angeles County is retaliating against Grace Community Church for simply exercising their constitutionally protected right to hold church and challenging an unreasonable, unlawful health order,” Ellis said. 

“In America, we have a judicial system to ensure that the executive branch does not abuse its power, and Grace Community Church has every right to be heard without fear of reprisal. The Democrats’ message to Americans is clear—if you don’t bow to every whim of tyranny, the government will come after you. The Church has peacefully held this lease for 45 years and the only reason the County is attempting eviction is because (Pastor) John MacArthur stood up to their unconstitutional power grab. This is harassment, abusive, and unconscionable.”

What is going on here is actually a shot across the bow to other churches: stand up to the government and it will find ways to make your life miserable. So much for the First Amendment rights to the free exercise of religion and to peaceably assemble. That is apparently trumped by the government keeping you safe from the Wuhan virus.  How ironic when you consider these state and county governments, who claim to have your safety in mind, have released violent criminals from jail also because of Covid.  Consider as well that many of these blue state governments want to punitively defund the police.  Finally, these same political hacks are obsessed with cracking down on our lives, yet do not lift a finger to control the rampant homelessness problem in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco in which pestilence is a very real danger to surrounding communities.

Democrats at all levels of government are naturally full of hubris.  However, as more ordinary Americans challenge their arbitrary dictates their arrogance is transforming into reckless desperation.

Pray that Grace Community Church will win this skirmish and will find a way around this setback for their parishioners. God will be glorified in the midst of this spiritual battle. This will happen because Pastor MacArthur and thousands of Christians are prayerfully seeking God for redress now that the County of Los Angeles has failed in this regard.  

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The Name is Christian , not doormat

by Dex Bahr

Too many Christians are content to be a doormat for the world. Christianity is not an excuse for anyone to remain passive and non-judgmental regarding right and wrong and good and evil.

Unbelievers love to throw Matthew 7:1-2 in Christians’ faces to shame them.:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. “ (New King James Bible)

Bu was Jesus telling us not to ever judge? Many people , including Christians, take this verse out of context, assuming that it is not up to us to judge the actions of others.

Jesus says nothing of the sort. When you read further into the chapter you find this in verses 3-5:

“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother,’Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Clearly , Jesus is not restricting us from making judgments. However, He is telling us to first take care of our own sin before judging another’s sin.And if you needed further proof that Jesus is in fact telling us to judge, examine Matthew 7:6:

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

Discerning just who are dogs and swine obviously requires judgment for that determination. Our Lord and Savior is teaching us that we don’t just share the Gospel willy nilly to just anyone. For instance sharing the Gospel in the middle of Satanic ritual or to a group of anarchists in the midst of a riot is bad judgment. Even Jesus was silent before His accusers during the night of a His arrest and later crucifixion.

When Jesus told us not to judge this was a warning not to be excessively critical and eager to point out the faults of others. Jesus is not telling us not to judge good and evil. If this were so , why would the God tell us to hate evil?

You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He preserves the souls of His saints;
He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.–Psalm 97:10 (NKJV)

If we were not to judge, as the world is so quick to tell Christians, how can we discern truth versus deception? We can do so because we judge by the discernment given to us by God through the Holy Spirit. However, while we are to judge, our role is not condemnation. God tells to love our enemies for a reason: we were once enemies of God because of our sin. We can never forget that and we must remember that only God can make a final judgment on a person. That role is not for us as believers.

We can only stand in the truth of God because to stand in the truth of man is foolishness. The world hates the truth of God preferring , instead, to create its own reality: a reality comprised of lies and deception.

This only makes sense because to deny the truth of God is to lie to yourself. If you deny this basic truth in the face of all of creation speaking of God, then lies will corrupt every fiber of your being. We are seeing the fruits of this in the corruption of every institution that has provided the guardrails of our society. Look around. From marriage, to law, to education , to science and even to the Christian church, secularism in the form of politics has corrupted everything.

The truth of contemporary America and of Western Civilization is that lies have become the foundation of politics, philosophy and even morality. People have believed the lies that they are good people because they care for the environment, condemn racism and stand for social justice. They have been led to believe by the arbiters of pop culture that these are three of the biggest problems facing the world. Talk about deception of the highest order.

Yet, many churches have also bought into this deception. They have chosen to acquiesce to a culture that rejects truth instead of standing on the truth of the Bible and making a right judgment. This happens because too many Christians are preoccupied with disproving a negative that the world accuses them of (i.e. bigotry of homosexuals or being against a woman’s right to a abortion). This stems primarily from Christians having a fear of man rather than a fear of God.

Fear of man deludes Christians to prostrate themselves for cultural approval rather than standing for Godly Truth no matter who is offended . The truth is Jesus offends the culture. The Bible offends the culture and truth be told, even God offends the culture. And guess what? If you follow Jesus you should be offending the culture. If you are not, then a stark personal assessment is needed.

Yes we are to love our enemies, but we are to hate evil. Yes we are to render unto Caesar, but we are also to worship the Lord our God even when government commands us not to do so. We obey government but not at the cost of fellowship and worship.

The Christian Church is tasked with the mission of sharing the Gospel of the life, death , resurrection and return of Christ and that alone (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Acts1:8; Romans10:12-15). We are not called to validate sin or pervert the Word of God in the pursuit of riches.

Love is shown by speaking the truth, while appeasement is staying silent. Our current culture is a consequence of the too many churches choosing to remain silent about the rot infecting it because of a wrong belief about rightful judgment Time to reject the passive role of doormat to the culture and instead dedicate our selves to leading people the doorway of Jesus as as Lord and Savior.

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Standing in the Gap

“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” –Ezekiel 22:30

Who is God seeking to stand in the gap for the land in which you are living? Is He seeking that evangelical leader with the gift of charisma and the ability to cut straight to a lost soul’s heart? Or perhaps God is seeking someone who is successful in a particular endeavor to step up to this task? Or perhaps maybe, just maybe, God is seeking you.

“God is seeking me?” you may be asking yourself. “What have I got to offer? I am not so polished with my speaking, my Bible knowledge is limited and quite frankly, I don’t believe I am up the task.”

Those are valid concerns that anyone may have , but look at your country. I live in America and I see the last best hope for freedom in this world under threat from Godless Marxism. We are a land that seems to be the living example of Romans 1. As a Christian man, I am convinced that God has given over the lawless to their sin. I see countless of numbers of people content to live in darkness because of pride , lust and arrogance. God is calling His people, Christians, to be lights in this dark world and if you are reading this site, chances are God is calling you.

But if you are still not convinced of this calling God has for you, this is understandable. However, read your Bible . From Abraham, to Moses, to Noah, to Samson, to Jonah, to Gideon to Samuel to David, and throughout the Bible, God has chosen those who, based on their origins, seemed the least likely to accomplish mighty things. But these men and others throughout history did carry out their callings in the might of God. These were not perfect men and their sins at times caused them to fall, but they surrendered to God’s call and glorified Him.

God does not care what personality traits you think you need to possess before you can serve Him. He is only looking for obedience and knows our skills and talents better than we do.

God is seeking those willing to stand in the gap. Perhaps He is calling you. Do not fear, for our Father in heaven will give us the courage and strength for whatever task He wishes us to undertake. All we have to do is be obedient and stand in His might.